brunt

UK: /ˈbrʌnt/ US: /brʌnt/ ,(brunt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

brunt /brʌnt/   n. 

[uncountable]

Idioms

1. bear or take the brunt of, [~ + object] to suffer or absorb the main force or impact of (an attack or blow):
   Our town bore the brunt of the storm.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

brunt  (brunt), n. 

1. the main force or impact, as of an attack or blow:
   His arm took the brunt of the blow.

• 1275–1325; Middle English; perh. origin, originally sexual assault; akin to Old Norse brundr, German Brunft heat, ruttish state, Old English brunetha heat, itching; cognate with Old High German bronado. See burn¹

Synonyms

thrust, stress, burden.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

brunt / brʌnt/ noun

1. the main force or shock of a blow, attack, etc (esp in the phrase bear the brunt of)

Etymology: 14th Century: of unknown origin